Official Safehold Speculation Thread

DDHvi wrote:What I don't see is: given that the erosion and depositing geology produced today is typically gully/ravine on steep slopes, meanders on shallow slopes, delta formation when the water hits the ocean; and that the typical strata formations show sheet erosion/depositing, how can people accept that all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation?

I don't think that the Writ says that everything is unchanging. What the Writ says is that the Archangels made everything and set things in motion. The world changes thereafter.

Charybdis wrote:1) Imperial Charis is NOT SECURE with a single heir.

2) Nahrmahn's 'Widow', Ohlyvya, is too much in hiding as 'Regent?' of Emerald - expect changes there.

Given that Sharleyan was an 'only child' and Merlin has her well covered with surveillance, plus Owl would make sure that no common illness would be a factor... I am not worried about that. I would like to see Sharleyan and Calyb get to spend some quality time together and give the crown princes a brother or sister

I do see Ohlyvya taking a more active roll especially with her ability to visit Owl and Nahrmahn in virtual reality and would be able to see some of the hardware in the cave. I think that she will be more likely to want to visit and take a closer look.

Just my $ 0.02 worth

SWM wrote:

DDHvi wrote:What I don't see is: given that the erosion and depositing geology produced today is typically gully/ravine on steep slopes, meanders on shallow slopes, delta formation when the water hits the ocean; and that the typical strata formations show sheet erosion/depositing, how can people accept that all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation?

I don't think that the Writ says that everything is unchanging. What the Writ says is that the Archangels made everything and set things in motion. The world changes thereafter.

Yeah. I think there's been several text passages that show the Safeholdians are well aware that the landscape has been changing since the original Maps were made. Mostly in context that newer maps are made by mortal fallible humans and can sometimes be lacking in adequate detail.

Nimue's Cave is safe for the foreseeable future.

Why not spend a few decades bootstrapping a higher-volume manufacturing capability for TF-level tech?

It could really come in handy to have enough battle steel and soft body armor to deploy to more than a few strategic people.

How much explosive could you load into a cannon made of battle steel?

The cover story is already in place. The hidden army of seijins must have a base, right? Where they can re-supply their sacred weapons? Just start a rumor that the secret base is producing enough materiel for thousands of seijins and is generously sharing it with allies. Optionally, put out that it's not new production, but instead holy relics preserved since the War Against the Fallen until the day of the true Church's greatest need. Dramatic stories about the opening of the Seijin Armory would then fly around on their own.

For extra credit, start a rumor that since the seijins serve only the true church, that their base is in the heart of orthodoxy, somewhere in Harchong, under the protection of the Harchong nobles. Then let Clytahn neutralize Harchong for you.

Keep in mind that the ultimate goal is the defeat of the Ghaba, not the church. That's why Merlin doesn't mind the Church duplicating Charis innovations.

RFC is following the age old Sci-Fi recipe that people have to learn their way to technology, not be given it. In keeping with this theme, Merlin can't start giving away TF tech. The Safeholdians must "earn it".

They've gone from 1200AD to about 1850AD, with a mix of 1900, in about 8 years with non-EM tech. As discussed in this and other threads, they are going to have to deal with the proscriptions sooner or later because they are going to have to use EM technology to progress into anything close to TF tech.

And EM technology is going to take a lot longer than 10 or 20 years to evolve into TF tech...

Yes. Merlin's best work was when Howsmynn said something to the effect "You've got me thinking differently". He's got inventiveness accelerated and he's protected curiosity at the College. Together the two will snowball.

Yes, the only long term hope is for Safeholders to have the habits of thought and action to invent and improve things themselves.

Yes, the current war is only a battle, but it has to be won on both strategic and humanitarian grounds. Holy relics fit into the culture, for example SPOILER's sword.

It's not too early to be building a shipyard for spacecraft. He's not close to having one. There are high-tech adversaries already, and only Merlin can deal with them. Building the manufacturing capacity to make something that can neutralize the OBS is a strategic necessity.

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Y'know, Narhmann might have just the turn of mind needed for building offensive cyber weapons. The Temple artifacts haven't had the benefit of updated defenses.

OsageOrange wrote:Welcome to the Official Safehold Speculation Thread! This is where anyone and everyone can post their own speculative theories, ideas and thoughts on what we might see in upcoming Safehold novels.

First, a few rules:
1. Follow the forum rules and information guidelines.
2. Don't take credit for someone else's speculative theory/idea/thought.
3. Any speculative theory/thought, no matter how crazy sounding, is always welcome.
4. Keep speculative theories/thoughts related to what is stated in the official Safehold content (ie, the novels).
5. Be nice to people and give them room to talk.
6. No spoilers allowed!
7. These rules can be added to/updated/modified at anytime.

So go ahead and post away your speculative theories and thoughts!

Merlin (and Owl) ought to be able to replenish the raw materials needed to build a few more PICA's and Owl ought to be able to use the medical center to install NEET's in members of Calyb's inner circle

Just my two cents worth

Expert snuggler wrote:Nimue's Cave is safe for the foreseeable future.

Why not spend a few decades bootstrapping a higher-volume manufacturing capability for TF-level tech?

It could really come in handy to have enough battle steel and soft body armor to deploy to more than a few strategic people.

How much explosive could you load into a cannon made of battle steel?

The cover story is already in place. The hidden army of seijins must have a base, right? Where they can re-supply their sacred weapons? Just start a rumor that the secret base is producing enough materiel for thousands of seijins and is generously sharing it with allies. Optionally, put out that it's not new production, but instead holy relics preserved since the War Against the Fallen until the day of the true Church's greatest need. Dramatic stories about the opening of the Seijin Armory would then fly around on their own.

For extra credit, start a rumor that since the seijins serve only the true church, that their base is in the heart of orthodoxy, somewhere in Harchong, under the protection of the Harchong nobles. Then let Clytahn neutralize Harchong for you.

I really like the last point that you raised but, as someone else pointed out the goal is not just to defeat the church but to get humans ready to face the Gababa

With enough advanced artifacts floating around, sooner or later they would come into the possession of inquisitive nerds who would take them apart to see how they work. If the advancement is carefully kept to 1900-1950 levels, those curious people would have a chance to learn by experiment.

C. O. Thompson wrote:

Expert snuggler wrote:Nimue's Cave is safe for the foreseeable future.

Why not spend a few decades bootstrapping a higher-volume manufacturing capability for TF-level tech?

It could really come in handy to have enough battle steel and soft body armor to deploy to more than a few strategic people.

How much explosive could you load into a cannon made of battle steel?

The cover story is already in place. The hidden army of seijins must have a base, right? Where they can re-supply their sacred weapons? Just start a rumor that the secret base is producing enough materiel for thousands of seijins and is generously sharing it with allies. Optionally, put out that it's not new production, but instead holy relics preserved since the War Against the Fallen until the day of the true Church's greatest need. Dramatic stories about the opening of the Seijin Armory would then fly around on their own.

For extra credit, start a rumor that since the seijins serve only the true church, that their base is in the heart of orthodoxy, somewhere in Harchong, under the protection of the Harchong nobles. Then let Clytahn neutralize Harchong for you.

I really like the last point that you raised but, as someone else pointed out the goal is not just to defeat the church but to get humans ready to face the Gababa

I think the solution to the problem of "The Big Reveal" and overthrowing the proscriptions is to not do it, rather Merlin should start Owl constructing a space station and while it is being constructed, start modifying ICA children (with parental permission) to have NEATs, educate them and when the space station is complete move them there and let them take up the work of improving TF Tech to defeat the Gbaba. As time goes on there will be a self-sustaining population, with space farms so that Safehold can go it's own merry way without worrying about heresy cries raising their ugly heads.